Convector or other heat exchange device



June 26, 1956 A. B. MODINE CONVECTOR OR OTHER HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1951 m o 9 ,0 www@ j J 5 Z .AIT 2 f i 4 ,I ,J 6 y o f f j f/ O 2.222222 j f 1 22^222222f 2 222222 h N 6 CONVECTOR OR OTHER HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE Arthur B. Medine, Racine, Wis., assignor to Medine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 13, 1951, Serial No. 205,860

3 Claims. (Cl. 257-256) The invention relates generally to a liuid conduit for use iiuid lines, or the like, and more particularly to such a conduit having ready application to a convector, or other type of heat transfer structure. Certain features of this invention are broadly applicable to the embodiments as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 205,859, tiled January 13, 1951.

In connection with the transfer of uids for heat exchange, or other purposes, the conduit oftentimes must be made of materials having special or suitable characteristics, as for example, in connection with uids having corrosive characteristics or containing material having such characteristics, the material embodying the conduit must be constructed of a material which is not appreciably affected by the material which it is to carry. Thus while rit may, for example, be desirable to form the conduit of steel for reason of strength or in order to conserve in usage of more valuable metals, the particular application to which the conduit is to be put would render it necessary to fabricate it out of a ditferent material, as for example, brass or copper, which would considerably increase the cost of the nished structure. A typical example of such a problem is in the heat exchanger eld, wherein the use of carbon steel tubing, or the like, is impractical where water or steam is owing therethrough due to the rusting action on the tubing. Consequently, such type heat exchangers normally employ brass or copper tubing.

The present invention contemplates the production of tubing, or other fluid carrying passages, which is in the form of a bimetallic structure, the interior of the same having a liner of metal having suitable characteristics for the uid to be carried, and the outer shell of the structure formed from a metal which may be relatively inexpensive and otherwise generally unsuitable for use in direct contact with the fluid to be carried.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a bimetallic structure which is simple in construction, durable, and easily and relatively inexpensively fabricated.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a structure which may be readily designed to form a closed passage, as for example, in use in connection with heat exchange structures, and in which case it may be readily provided with an eiflcient lin structure with substantially no change in the fabricating techniques required.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a structure which may be readily fabricated by the use of so-called stitch type of welding equipment.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a structure in which the heat conductive characteristics of the respective materials employed may be el'ectively utilized, and a n structure produced having, in effect, characteristics corresponding to a tapered n with its resultant high eiliciency.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction United States Patent Y Patented June 26, 1956 lil@ herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters represent like or corresponding parts:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a length of tubing constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the tubing illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of a uid passage structure closed at opposite ends and provided with inlets and outlets, as well as heat transfer tins whereby the device is of particular use in a heat exchange structure;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the structure illustrated in Fig. 3 taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through one of the inlet or outlet fittings employed in connection with the structure iilustrated in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View similar to Fig. 2 of a modied form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figs. l and 2, 1 indicates generally a tubular structure illustrated in the present embodiment of the invention as comprising a pair of strips of material 2 and 3, each of the latter being provided with similar but oppositely extending otiset portions 4 and 5, with the peripheral longitudinal edges of the members 2 and 3 being provided with coextensive tianged portions 6. Positioned between the members 2 and 3 is a liner comprising a pair of strips 7 complementary in shape to the respective members 2 and 3, whereby the offset portions 8 of the strips 7 lie in close engagement with the adjacent respective offset portions 4 and 5, and the anged portions 9 of the strips 7 are positioned between the anges 6 of the members 2 and 3.

The members 2, 3, and 7 are assembled as illustrated in Fig. 2, and suitably secured in fluid tight relation, as for example, by a line of Welding 11 run along each of the anges 6. The welding 11 may be readily performed by various means, including that of the so-called stitch type of welding equipment, wherein the welding current is intermittently applied to the structure as the assembled tubing passes therethrough. The liners 7 may thus be made of a material having suitable characteristics for engagement with the uid to be carried, and may be of very light gauge, as the outer housing will normally be designed to carry operating stresses. It will be apparent from the above that the thickness of the liners 7 need merely be suiiicient to provide a desired resistance against corrosive, or other action of the iluids carried, resulting in the use of a minimum of material which normally will be relatively expensive as compared with that of the material forming the housing, with the outer housing constructed to withstand any stresses which may be involved. As the anges 9 of the respective liners are bonded together, an eiective seal is provided whereby none of the uid carried will come in contact with the metal forming tne outer housing.

It will be apparent that as the elements forming the tubing may be readily fabricated by means of continuous rolling equipment, or the like, and bonded together by continuous operating equipment, the tubing may be very inexpensively and speedily manufactured, resulting in a finished product of relatively low cost suitable for applications normally requiring relatively expensive structures.

Separate lengths of tubing, such as that illustrated 3 in Figs. 1 and 2, may be readily and efficiently connected in series by the use of suitable connecting members or nipples constructed of metal similar to that employed for the liners 7, with the nipples extending into adjacent ends f the tubing and bonded to the inner liners 7, Vas well as to the outer housing.

The present invention, as previously mentioned, may be readily employed Vin the fabrication of closed chambers or passages, and provided'with n elements for specific application in connection with heat exchange structures, or the like, and such aV structure is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Referring to the latter, the numeral 21 indicates generally a tubular section for use in a heat exchange structure, or the like, and comprises a pair of outer housing members 22 and 23 respectivelyrhaving odset portions 24 and 2S, with the members 22 having relatively Wide flange portions 26, andthe member 23 having relatively narrow anges 26. Positioned between the members 22 and 23 is a pair of liner strips 27 complementary in shape to the respective members 22 and 23, whereby the offset portions 28 of the strips 27 lie in cross engagement with the adjacent respective offset portions 24 and 25, and the flange portions 29 of the strips 27 positioned between the anges 26 and 26' of the members 22 and 23.

Other than as to the differences in width of the flanges 26 and 26', the structure thus far described is similar to that illustrated in Figs. land 2. However, as clearly by suitable means, as for example, bonding material 39 which rigidly secures the sleeve to the outer housing and, at the same time, provides an effective seal between the sleeve and the liner 27, thereby preventing any iluid in the structure from coming in contact with the metal of theV outer housing. .Y

In assembling the structure, liners 27 are positioned in their respective outer housings, and the sleeves 36 inserted in the respective ports, and the sleeves may then be suitably bonded to theadjacent structure.Y This may be accomplished by placing asmall ring of bonding material around the sleeveY adjacent the flange 37, and another ring of bonding material adjacent the external juncture of the flared portion 35 of the outer housing and the external surface of the sleeve, whereupon by the application of heat, the bonding material will fill up illustrated in Fig. 3, the ends 31 of the offset portion 25 terminate in the plane of the flanges 26', so that the offset portion 25 is closed at either end, and the flange 26 extends completely around the offset portion forming an elongatedV recess. The member 22 is similarly formed with the ends of the offset portion 24 being closed in theY same manner, whereby the flange 26 extends completely around the'olfset portion 24. The offset portions 24 and 25 are of equal length, as well as equal width, as illustrated in Fig. 4, with the side walls of the respective offset portions being uniform about the periphery of the offset. The liner members 27 are similarly constructed, whereby the offset portions 2S of the liners are co-extensive with and positioned closely adjacent to the walls of the offset portions 24 and 25 of the respec tive members 22 and* 23, Veach liner member being co-extensive in length with that of the housing members 22 and 23. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the respective elements are secured together by a single continuous line of welding 32 extending completely around the offset portions, thereby forming a closed chamber completely lined with metal forming the liner 27.

ln the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the heat exchange section above described is provided with a pairv ot' ports 33 adjacent one end 3l of the device, and a second pair of ports 34 at the opposite end 3l, only one of the ports 34 being'illustrated. The four ports permit the connection of a plurality of sections, such as that illustrated in Fig. 3, to be connected in parallel, with the ports 33, for example, forming an inlet to the respective section, and the ports 34 forming the outlet thereof, or vice versa. All of the inlet and outlet connections are similarly constructed, Fig. 5 disclosing a sectional view through one of the ports 34. -In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the ports 33 and 34 on the members 22 and 23 are each formed by an outwardly flared opening 35 in which is positioned a suitable sleeve 36, or the like, constructed of the same or aY similar metal to that Y forming the liner 27 and suitable for use in the particular application involved, and having an external ange 37 at its inner end bearing against the adjacent liner 27, the latter likewiseV having an opening 38 therein aligned with the opening 35 for the reception of the sleeve 36. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the material of the liner 27 adjacent the opening 38 is drawn or flared outwardly, corresponding with the shape or" the opening 3S. VThe sleeve 36 is secured to. the linerV 27 Yand outer housing 28 any voids between the sleeve and adjacent structure, and effectively bond the same together, following which the elements may be stitch ywelded together, as illustrated.

Referring to Fig. 4, Vit will be noted that the flanges 26 and 26' of vthe respective housing members and the flanges 29 of the liners'27, in effect, form acomposite heat transfer iin'. Assuming the structure of Fig. 4' is intended for use as a heat exchangerin a hot water system, or the like, therouter housing may be of steel,

and the inner linersV of copper or brass, with the sleeves 36 likewise of brass, in which case the liners which are directly in contact with the fluid in the exchanger section would be of relatively high heat conductivity, whereas the outer housing, which would be of relatively low heat conductivity, will not be in direct contact with the fluid in the device. lt'willbe noted that the fin structure thus formed immediately adjacent the chamber formed by theV offset portions is of four thicknesses of material, the two inner thicknesses comprising the material of high heat conductivity directly in Contact with the fluid, and the outer thickness of lower heat conductivity. Thus, at such sections of the ns maximum transmission of heat results. For a distance beyond the edgesof the flanges 29 to the outer edge of the flanges 25', a double thickness of the outer housing is provided to achieve an intermediate amount of heat dissipation, with the extremely outer ends of the lin structurerformed bythe outer portions of the flanges 26 providing a single thickness of material for heat transmission and dissipation.

It will be apparent that lthis construction provides a iin structure of varying thicknesses so that the heat conductivity and dissipation diminishes towards the outer edge of the lin in amanner similar to that of a tapered lin, which is recognized to be `of high elliciency in the conduction of heat for heat transfer purposes. Likewise, the inherent heat transfer characteristics of the fin resulting from the material employed therein is such that greater conductivity is achieved adjacent the uid chamber and diminishing outwardly therefrom, generally in proportion to the amount Vof heat toV be' dissipated by the various portions of the fin. ltwill be' noted that the present invention is therefore particularly adapted to heat exchanger surface Yenabling not only the production of a simple, inexpensive structure, but one yhaving a Vhigh degree of efficiency for the purposes intended.

Illustrated in Fig. 6 isa modied form of the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and y2,:and disclosing the applica-Y tion of the present invention to a fluid conductingtube of stitch welding, or the like, thereby forming a bimetallic liuid conduit.

It will be apparent that 1 hile l' have illustrated the liners in the constructions of Figs. 1 and 3 as formed of individually separate strips, the liners 7 or 27 could be formed from a single strip of double width folded a pair of corresponding edges, so that actually only one of the seams in the line of welding forms a seal for the chamber or tube thus formed. Hhe same is also true of the outer housing, but for simplicity in manufacture and fabrication of the structure, it is preferred to in same as illustrated in the drawings. Likewise, whiie i have shown both housing members provided with offset portions, if desired, oniy one offset could be provided with the other housing member of planar construction.

it will be apparent from the above description that i have provided a novel, bimetallic conduit having wide application in various iieids, and of particular advantage in connection with heat exchange structures, which is relatively simple in construction, may be inexpensively manufactured, and which provides high eiiiciency in heat transfer applications.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, i do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination oi parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a finned iiuid conduit for use in a heat transfer structure, the combination of an outer housing structure formed from ferrous sheet material and comprising a pair of longitudinally extending sections, one of which is provided with a longitudinally extending offset portion therein, an inner separate liner structure formed from nonferrous sheet material and comprising a pair of sections complementary to the interior surfaces of the housing sections, said housing sections having continuously extending, peripheral mating flanges, one of said pair of mating flanges of lesser Width, said liner sections having similar continuously extending, complementary mating anges positioned between corresponding mating anges of the housing section and forming a uid conduit when aixed together in fluid-tight relationship and also providing substantially simulated tapered iins, means for securing together in huid-tight relationship mating ilanges of the liner sections and the latter to adjacent anges of the housing sections to form a closed chamber, said means for securing comprising a welded connection between the flanges of the liner and housing sections, said housing the and liner structures each having a pair of longitudinaliy spaced and aligned openings therein, the openings in the separate liner structure being axially aligned with the openings or the xrousing structure, said openings communicating with said chamber and forming iniet and outiet ports therefor, and separate sieeve connections positioned in their respective openings and secured in fluid-tight relationship to said liner structure, and said separate sleeve connections extending normally outwardly with respect to the longitudinally extending sections of ed fluid conduit.

2. ln a finned iluid conduit for use in a heat transfer structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the aforesaid openings of said housing are formed with outwardly extending anges, each of said sleeve connections extending normally outwardly and formed with an annular flange, each of said annuiar flanges amxed to the contiguous portion of the liner about the opening therein through which the respective sleeve extends in fluid-tight relationship, and the outer end of each of the ilanged openings of the housings affixed in huid-tight relationship to the contiguous portion of the respective sleeves mounted therein.

3. In a finned fluid conduit for use in a heat transfer structure as set forth in claim 1, said complementary mating iianges or" the liner sections being of lesser Width than the least of said mating flanges of said housing sections, Whereby simulated tapered fins are provided on the closed chamber of the finned fluid conduit.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 406,332 Bayles July 2, 1889 433,882 Belding Aug. 5, 1890 505,424 Kruse Sept. 19, 1893 1,020,696 Hill Mar. 19, 1912 1,903,125 Modine Mar. 28, 1933 1,438,589 Hansen Dec. 12, 1933 1,949,984 Walker Mar. 6, 1934 1,954,638 Loefler Apr. 10, 1934 2,167,031 Evans Feb. 1, 1938 2,176,439 Taylor et al Oct. 17, 1939 2,247,199 Kritzer June 24, 1941 2,345,507 Smith Mar. 28, 1944 2,386,747 Ris Oct. 16, 1945 2,391,409 Geist et al Dec. 25, 1945 2,462,136 Smith Feb. 26, 1949 2,586,118 Teller Feb. 19, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 546,836 Germany Mar. 3, 1932 

